Tensioning device for vehicle window regulators



J1me 1939- s. w. NICHOLSON 2,162,111

TENSIONING DEVICE FOR VEHICLE WINDOW R GULATORS Filed Nov. 11, 1957 MAM...-

INVENTOR 34 v JiZ/r/ey W/V/C/IO/FOH y/M 4/ EM ATTORNEY v Patented June 13, 1939 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE TENSIONING DEVICE FORlVEHICLE WINDOW REGULATORS Application November 11, 1937, Serial No. 174,091

Claims.

This invention relates to window regulators for vehicles, such as automobiles, but more particularly to devices for improving the operation of regulators of the type shown in the co-pending 5 application of Stanley W. Nicholson Serial No.

An object is to eliminate the dwell which ordinarily occurs in the operation of regulators of the above character thereby to effect a more uniform and continuous window movement.

Another object is to produce an attachment to the retainer which is fixed to an edge portion of a window, the attachment operating to impose tension on the button or stud of the swinging regulator arm so that lost motion interfering with uninterrupted window travel is obviated and the regulator operates uniformly without slipping or objectionable clicking sound.

Other objects reside in the construction, operation and arrangement of parts hereinafter described, and, for purposes of illustration but not of limitation, an embodiment of the invention is shown on the accompanying drawing, in which Figure l is a side elevation of a jack knife type window regulator connected to the retainer and showing the button on the swinging regulator arm close to its extreme left-hand position;

Figure 2 is a view similar to Figure 1 showing the position of the parts when the swinging arm is brought into engagement with the crank arm,

the button being in an intermediate position;

Figure 3 is an enlarged fragmentary view showing the retainer secured to the lower edge of a window glass and the tensioning device carried by the retainer;

Figure 4. is a longitudinal sectional View substantially on the line 44 of Figure 3; and

Figure 5 is a perspective view of the tensioning plate.

The illustrated embodimentof the invention comprises a window regulator ll] of the jack knife type as shown and described in the copending application of Stanley W. Nicholson, Serial No. 132,738. In this form of regulator,

a handle crank H is suitably connected through a clutch mechanism (not shown) to a pinion 12 which meshes with an internal gear I3. The gear I3 forms a part of a crank arm I 4 which is suitably pivoted at I5 to a mounting plate 16. Pivotally connected to the outer end of the crank arm I4 is a link 11 which is provided with a button I8 on its outer or free end. The outer end of the button flares outwardly in cone shape and mounted on the shank of the button is a washer 56 I9 which is urged toward the head by a coil spring 20. The button it! engages in a longituclinally elongate slot 2! formed in a retainer plate 22. An enlargement 23 at one end of the slot enables the button to be inserted as will be readily understood. Formed on opposite sides of I the slot 2| are outwardly inclined flanges 24, the washer l9 engaging one side of the retainer plate and the enlarged head of the button 18 engaging the opposite side. The metal of the plate at the end of the slot 2! opposed to the enlargement 23 10 is flanged outwardly as indicated at 25. Outwardly extending flanges 26 are provided on the upper and lower sides of the retainer plate 22 and form, with the outwardly inclined flanges 24, channels or pockets for a purpose hereinafter described.

The upper flange 26 of the retainer plate is suitably fixed as by welding to a channel 21 which embraces the lower edge of a window glass 28 so that in the operation of the window regulator 20 by turning the crank handle H, the window glass 28 is raised or lowered depending upon the direction of rotation of the crank handle. Detailed description of the operation of the regulator 10 will not be given but suffice it to say that when 25 the window glass 28 is in its lowermost position, the link 11 and crank arm 14 are substantially in alignment. Thereafter, when the crank arm I4 is swung in a direction to raise the window glass, the link 11 functions as a link providing the connection between the crank arm and the window glass. However, when the crank arm I 4 has been moved substantially to the position shown in Figure 2, the link I! abuts against a side of the crank arm 14 and further turning 35 movement of the crank arm M in the same direction causes the link i! to cooperate with the crank arm to form a bell crank lever. Substantially at this point, some difliculty has been experienced in that the link [1 is away from the 40 crank arm I4 and has a delayed action in closing or abutting itself, the crank arm thus imparting a slight interruption in the movement of the window glass. This objectionable interruption or dwell is overcome in accordance with this 45 invention as will hereinafter appear. In the further operation of the window regulator in the upward movement of the window glass, a pin 29 on the link ll enters a curved guideway 30 which holds the link and crank arm in engagement with 50 each other, It will be apparent that in the lowering of the window glass 28, the above described operation is reversed.

In accordance with this invention, a sheet metal plate 3| of substantially U shape has its legs 6,6

slidably mounted in the pocket or channel formed between the outwardly inclined flanges 24 and the retainer edge flanges 26. Movement of the plate 3| to the right of Figure 3 is limited by engagemement of the curved end 32 abutting against the flange portion of the retainer plate. Bridging the legs of the U-shaped plate 3| is an integral panel 33 having a fiat upper portion and upwardly connecting portions or legs 34. On the right-hand edge (Figure 3) of the panel 33 is an upwardly extending flange or abutment '35. The abutment 35 is yieldingly held in engagement with the button l8 by a pair of coil springs 35 which fit respectively in the channels formed between the outwardly inclined flanges 24 and the retainer flanges 26. One end of each of the springs 36 is secured to the right-hand end portion of the retainer plate 22 and the opposite end is secured to the plate 3|. 7

In operation of a regulator of this character and without the use of the tensioning device above described, the button l8 would stay at the left-hand portion of the slot 2| until the parts 7 approximate the position shown on Figure 2. Then, -it was necessary for the link I! to move into abutting relation with the arm before movement of the window would continue, such movement of the link being from its position at the left of the slot. This caused a dwell or interrup tion in the window glass travel. The above described tensioning device overcomes these objections and normally holds the link I! in abutting relation with the crank arm I4, and as a consequence, the window glass travel is uniform. The tendency of the button 18 to remain substantially in the position shown in Figure 3, is obviated, although outward movement of the button when necessary to the operation of the regulator is permitted.

It is' to be understood that numerous changes in details of construction, arrangement and operation may be effected without departing from the spirit of the invention especially as defined in the appended claims.

What .I claim is: 1. In combination with a window regulator having a link operating for a portion of its travel as a link and for another portion as a lever arm,

a crank arm connected to operate said link, a retainer for the window glass having a longitudinally elongate guide, a button on said link slidable in said guide, and a spring-tensioned abutment member on said retainer urging said button to cause said link to abut against said crank arm.

2. In combination with a regulator having a swinging arm, a button on the free end of said arm, a retainer secured to an edge of the window glass and having a longitudinally elongate guide receiving said button for sliding engagement, a

plate member slidable along said retainer, and a spring for holding said member at all times in abutting engagement with one side of said button.

3. The combination with a window operator, said operator comprising a regulator having an arm operating for aportion of its travel as a link and for another portion as a lever arm, a button on the free end of the arm, a retainer fixed to an edge portion of the window glass and having a longitudinally elongate guide with which said button engages for sliding movement, and resilient means tending to hold said button in a predetermined position in said guide. 7

4. The combination with a window operator, said operator comprising a regulator having an arm operating for a portion of its travel as a link and for another portion as a lever arm, a button on the free end of the arm, a retainer fixed to an edge portion of the window glass and having a longitudinally elongate guide with which said button engages for sliding movement, and means operatively engaging said button tending to obviate lost motion thereof relative to said guide thereby to effect a more uniform Window travel.

5. In a device of the character described, aretainer adapted to be secured to an edge of a window glass, parallel flanges on longitudinal edges of said retainer, said retainer having a longitudinally elongate slot, flanges on opposite sides of said slot forming grooves with said first flanges, a plate having portions fitting said grooves and slidable along said retainer, springs in said grooves anchored at one to said retainer and at the opposite end to said plate, and an abutment member on said plate.

STANLEY W. NICHOLSON. 

